Sample-dispenser.



L. J. FAIRBANKS.

SAMPLE DISPENSER.

APPLICATION FlLED1ULYI5,19 16.

1 ,278,50., Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

WITNESSES: I E

. U HIS ATTU NW 1-F Numwls PETENS ca, PHOTG-LIYHOH WASMINcmn, o c.

LUKE J. FAInBA-NKS, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SAMPLE-DISPENSER.

Srecification'of sett s Pat nt- Patented. Sept. 10, 1391 8 Applicationfiled July 15, 1916. Serial No. 109,480.

Sample-Dispensers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sample dispensers, and "the invention has forits object to provide a dispenser suitable for the use of salesmen,canvassers and-the like for the display and dispensing of wares such assemi-liquids, liquids,volives, and, in fact, all goodsof such natureas-wouldotherwise be difficult. of display and sampling. Thedilficulties of displaying the contents of a can of goods to aprospective customer by a canvasser, in attractive manner and withoutundue Waste, are Well-known to all grocery salesmen. In ordinarypractice a can of a particular brand of goods must be opened so that thecontents thereof may be sampled and the goods exposed to view, and noattractive. and sanitary way of displaying such goods to a secondcustomer has heretofore been known. 1 i

In accordance withthe present invention I provide a sample dispenser,container orcase adapted to contain goods of the general nature statedsuitable for the display of such goods by a salesman without undue wasteand without deterioration of the contents of such case or the like. Thedispenser preferably consists of a box-like portion pro-- vided with aclosure adapted to be sealed against such body portion and being hingedthereto, an outstanding ledge or wall portion being provided to preventthe accidental slopping over of the contents of the dispenser when theclosure portion is open. Furthermore, latch means are provided to firmlysecure the closure to the body or box portion when the container is tobe carried.

The invention has for a further object to provide an improved dispenserof the general character stated in which utility is combined withattractiveness, which is susceptible of adaptation to a wide range ofuses and services, and which will be superior in point of relativesimplicity and inexpen siveness of construction and organizationcombined with effectiveness in operation and use and durability andcompactness of form.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel provision, -formation, association and relative arrangement andinter-relation of parts, members and features, all as hereinafterdescribed, shown in th-e'drawing andv finally pointed out in claims:

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of 'a sample dispenserconstructed and organized in accordance with the invention; d I

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the line 09 -00Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows.

Corresponding parts in both the figures are designated by'the samereference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, in the embodiment of theinvention therein shown A designates 'a box-like member, B designates aclosure member, C designates sealing means, and D designates means forlatching the closure B to the body A. i v i The body portion A may beformed of sheet material and preferably comprises endwalls 3 and 4, sidewalls 5 and 6, and a bottom wall 7. The side and end walls are laterallyhorizontally extended near their tops as at 8 to provide a seat for theclosure B and such walls are further angularly upwardly directed as at 9to provide an up standing wall extending around the periphery of themember A. Such upstanding wall 9 is finished as by a bead 10.

The closure B is hinged to the peripheral wall 9 as by hinges 11 securedto the peripheral wall 9 as at 12 and secured to the 'closure B as at 13and such closure B preferably consists of a plate 14 of properdimensions to lie upon the laterally extending ledges 8 of the bodyportion A, it being ,understood that the sealing means C, which mayconsist of a gasket of rubber or the like, is interposed between theclosure B and the ledges 8. The gasket may be formed with a centralopening 15 registering with the interior of the box-like member A.

The latching means B is shown as comprising a three-armed spider 16 ofsheet metal, a plurality of cams 17, 17 and 17 oo-acting respectivelywith the arms 16 16 and 16 of the spider 16, and a lurality of notches18 provided in the perip eral Wall 9 of the body portion A for thereception of the spider arms16, 16 and 16?. The spider 16 is preferablycentrally pivotally secured to the closure 14 as by a rivet or the like19, a bushing 20 being interposed between the spider 16 and such closure14. The cams 17 17 b and 17 preferably each comprise a Wedge-likeupstanding wall over which a spider arm is adapted to ride. To providefor greater strength in the closure plate 14 a channel 21 may beprovided as'by pressing in the metalof such closure lid. r

The operation, method of use and advantages of the invention will bereadily understood from the foregoing disclosure, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing and the followi ng statement The dispensermay be filled with samples of such wares as it is desired to exhibit,such for instance as semi-liquids, and theclosure caused to compress theelastic seal C, as by rotating the spider 16 an arm of the same Will beforced into each of the notches 18 provided in the peripheralwall 9' andas such armsride over the cams 17, 17 b and 17 the closure is firmlypressed against the elastic seal and 'united with the body portionmaking a leak-proof joint so that the sample case may be carried in anyposition without fear of leakage or deterioration of the goods due tothe introduction or intrusion of air. To exhibit the goods and samplethe same it is only necessary to placethe dispenser right-side up,rotate the spiderin such direction as is necessary to withdraw the armsthereof from the respective'notches 18,vwhcreupon the lid maybe openedand'the dispenser handed to a customer so thatthe Copies of thi s patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the goods maybeinspected and samples withdrawn if desired.

Having thus disclosed my invention I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A sample dispenser comprising a container having its upright wallsoutwardly and upwardly offset adjacent to their upper edges, a closurehinged to said container and 7 adapted to rest upon the outwardlyextending portions of said walls, said upwardly extending ofiset portionbeing provided with notches, a holding member rotatably mountcontainerand adapted to seat upon the lateral oflset portions of the wallsthereof and a holding member rotatably mounted upon the closure andhaving'portionsfor engagement and cooperation withall of the walls ofthe container other, than the wall to which the closure is hinged andengaging said walls at points intermediate of the ends thereof andholding the closure in place.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribin witnesses.

" UKE J. FAIRBANKS. Witnessesz ALFRED H. 'DAEHLER,

' G. A. HORN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. Y

